The sudden brilliance at the horizon streamed into the corridor through the shattered side window, stretching Lin Qing's shadow long until it hung over Father Pucci like a nightmare, reflected in his now-lusterless eyes.
Thud.
Father Pucci's corpse hit the floor and fell silent.
The light beyond the hospital vanished, along with the screams of the vampire army.
Jolyne Kujo stared blankly at the scene, her mind utterly empty as a piercing ringing filled her ears.
She looked at Emporio and Narciso Anasui, whose injuries were healing under Hot Pants's treatment; at Father Pucci lying on the ground, the man who had chased them like stray dogs not long ago and now lay dead with his eyes still open; then at the ashes of the vampire army scattering on the wind beyond the window...
Jolyne felt as though everything in the world had become distant, steeped in an unreal, absurd sensation.
Until her eyes met Lin Qing's as he approached.
"...Sister Jolyne!"
The ringing abruptly faded. Emporio's voice reached her ears as a small figure rushed over and helped Jolyne to her feet.
"This is Brother Lin Qing, the one we told you about!"
Jolyne stared blankly at the approaching Lin Qing.
During the Whitesnake trial mission, Lin Qing had possessed Jolyne Kujo and used her body to fight Father Pucci. Thus, Narciso Anasui, Emporio, and even Father Pucci all remembered Lin Qing.
Only Jolyne Kujo herself had merely heard her companions talk about how extraordinary and dependable Lin Qing was. She had never truly felt it for herself.
In fact, after hearing it so often, Jolyne had begun to think they were exaggerating. Deep down, she had secretly been unconvinced—
He used her body and controlled Stone Free. No matter how amazing Lin Qing was, how much better could